A Washboard is a Great Survival Prep Item

February 10, 2012

About two years ago Ken purchased a washboard. “We’ll be able to keep clothes clean if the power goes out”, he said. It was made out of a wooden frame with it’s steel ridges to ‘wash’ your clothes on.

I don’t know if any of you have ever used a washboard or if you have one in your supplies. But, I would like to spout some washboard praises now because shortly after we bought it, I got the opportunity to use the washboard.

Not long after the washboard became part of our home, we lost power when an old transformer on the cross street died.  The power had been out for hours when there were finally two trucks of crews that showed up to replace the transformer. It wasn’t a quick job and would probably take the rest of the day. Not to worry, it was a warm beautiful day. Most of the neighbors who had been milling about watching the work crews, headed back to their homes for some lunch.

Shortly after Ken and I ate lunch, he came inside from the mechanical work he was doing. I looked at him and asked him what he had gotten on his shirt. There were several black spots on his shirt. “Oh, honey, why don’t you change your shirt so I can start treating those stains?” I asked. He changed his shirt and brought it to me.  All of a sudden it hit me.  “Sure,” I said thinking to myself that it will have to wait until the power comes back on so I can get it in the washing machine.

A few minutes later, I was walking past the island and I noticed the washboard sitting there.

Yup, you guessed it, I decided to try the washboard. Ken had oil stains on his shirt and I didn’t want to wait until the power came back on. Can I just tell you that I loved using the washboard? All it took was a little soap, a little water and a little scrubbing action on the washboard ridges! I was amazed at how little scrubbing action it took to get the shirt CLEAN. Having a few other dirty clothes waiting for laundry day, I had to clean them. The amount of time and the amount of scrubbing was minimal.  We squeezed the water out of the clothes. Nice! I then hung them on the folding wooden clothes drying rack.

According to Wikipedia, Clothes are soaked in hot soapy water in a washtub or sink, then squeezed and rubbed against the ridged surface of the washboard to force the cleansing fluid through the cloth to carry away dirt. Washboards may also be used for washing in a river, with or without soap. Then the clothes are rinsed. The rubbing has a similar effect to beating the clothes and household linen on rocks, an ancient method, but is less abrasive.

The washboard is a very easy, effective and economical way to keep your clothes clean. Try one!

Columbus Family Size Washboard

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